Brocéliande

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Brocéliande
T O U R I S T
R O U T E
20/07/06
B r o c é l i a n d e
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
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Page 2
A region caressed by the soft wind of legends, Brocéliande
is a great place to visit. An enchanting 90-kilometre circuit along the roads takes in a host of beautiful sites: from
Iffendic to Tréhorenteuc, Concoret and Treffendel, welcome to a world of innumerable shades of green revealing a splendid natural and architectural wealth. Get out
of your vehicle to be overwhelmed by the magical atmos-
Vallon de la Chambre au Loup
phere of the sites.
Domaine de Careil at Iffendic, on the edge of the road circuit. In
Brocéliande Forest
Brocéliande stone creates magnificent variations. Le Vallon de la
Enchanting landscapes
Chambre au Loup, at Iffendic, cuts its watery path between cliffs
All along the circuit, Paimpont forest is a place of timeless magic
of red shale culminating at 35 metres high.
where nature rules. Mainly private, it is a reminder of the ancient
A breathtaking panorama, all along the GR 37… For a great his-
forest that covered the Armorican peninsula 5,000 years ago. The
torical geology lesson look at the layers of sediments (sandstone,
lower forest is the kingdom of oak and beech trees, in contrast to
shale, and pudding stone) at the Marette quarry at Saint-Malon-
the upper forest that is the favoured spot of maritime and Scotch
sur-Mel; a book of stones
pines, gorse, and heather (walks authorised in the private forest on
written more than 500 mil-
the "Grand Randonnée" footpaths from April to October). Natural
lion years ago.
Paimpont Abbey
Departmental Sites preserve the most attractive landscapes of the
circuit. The 50 hectares of
Stones tell a story
Paimpont lake reflect the
The
peaceful harmony of its
shows off a beautiful archi-
eponymous Abbey. Reed
tectural heritage. To the
beds, water lilies, molinias,
southwest of the route stop at
cotton-grass, and carnivorous
Maxent and open the doors
sundew flourish here. Migrat-
of the Saint-Maxent's church.
ing birds from northern
In a Romano-Byzantine style,
Europe come to seek shelter
it was built in the 19th cen-
on the banks of this large
tury on the remains of a
reservoir. They also set up
monastery and then a church. Religious heritage ties the shale and
their winter quarters in the
sandstone to Saint-Péran at the church of Saint-Pierre (16th –18th
Brocéliande
circuit
Walkers in the forest
2
3
20/07/06
B r o c é l i a n d e
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
9:55
Page 2
A region caressed by the soft wind of legends, Brocéliande
is a great place to visit. An enchanting 90-kilometre circuit along the roads takes in a host of beautiful sites: from
Iffendic to Tréhorenteuc, Concoret and Treffendel, welcome to a world of innumerable shades of green revealing a splendid natural and architectural wealth. Get out
of your vehicle to be overwhelmed by the magical atmos-
Vallon de la Chambre au Loup
phere of the sites.
Domaine de Careil at Iffendic, on the edge of the road circuit. In
Brocéliande Forest
Brocéliande stone creates magnificent variations. Le Vallon de la
Enchanting landscapes
Chambre au Loup, at Iffendic, cuts its watery path between cliffs
All along the circuit, Paimpont forest is a place of timeless magic
of red shale culminating at 35 metres high.
where nature rules. Mainly private, it is a reminder of the ancient
A breathtaking panorama, all along the GR 37… For a great his-
forest that covered the Armorican peninsula 5,000 years ago. The
torical geology lesson look at the layers of sediments (sandstone,
lower forest is the kingdom of oak and beech trees, in contrast to
shale, and pudding stone) at the Marette quarry at Saint-Malon-
the upper forest that is the favoured spot of maritime and Scotch
sur-Mel; a book of stones
pines, gorse, and heather (walks authorised in the private forest on
written more than 500 mil-
the "Grand Randonnée" footpaths from April to October). Natural
lion years ago.
Paimpont Abbey
Departmental Sites preserve the most attractive landscapes of the
circuit. The 50 hectares of
Stones tell a story
Paimpont lake reflect the
The
peaceful harmony of its
shows off a beautiful archi-
eponymous Abbey. Reed
tectural heritage. To the
beds, water lilies, molinias,
southwest of the route stop at
cotton-grass, and carnivorous
Maxent and open the doors
sundew flourish here. Migrat-
of the Saint-Maxent's church.
ing birds from northern
In a Romano-Byzantine style,
Europe come to seek shelter
it was built in the 19th cen-
on the banks of this large
tury on the remains of a
reservoir. They also set up
monastery and then a church. Religious heritage ties the shale and
their winter quarters in the
sandstone to Saint-Péran at the church of Saint-Pierre (16th –18th
Brocéliande
circuit
Walkers in the forest
2
3
Page 4
Key
D
Leisure area
Start point
Megalithic site
Castle, manor, or ship-owner's
residence open to the public
Recreational centre
Religious heritage
Bicycle rental
Museum or curiosity
Picnic area
DI
N
NA
Bléruais
St-Gonlay
Ru
ud
ea
iss
omper
eC
9
Footpath
73
D
St-Malon
-sur-Mel
D7
66
Le Tombeau
de Merlin
D3
1
/ VAN
NES
Monterfil
D3
5
Comper
St-Péran
Telhouët
Coganne
La Ville Danet
D 36
eau
iss
Ru
66
D7
RMEL
Boutavent
Le Buisson
La Saudraie
Le Serein
Treffendel
La Fontaine
de Barenton
N 24
RENN
D
14
1
D
D 61
4
N2
La Garoulais
Le Jardin
aux Moines
Paimpont
Tréhorenteuc
D 154
La Motte
Salomon
D3
8
D 40
Lande
de la Troche
D
a
uL
D
Trégu
77
3
èze
Ch
ea
iss
Ru
L‘Ajeu
Le Gué
Le Cannée
Beauvais
Plélanle-Grand
3
D6
Maxent
D
’Aff
allée de l
V
LORIENT / VANNES
La
Abbaye-la-Joie
Notre-Dame
(Couv.)
re
5
D6
N 24
Beignon
ff
N 24
d’A
4
Campénéac
viè
Ri
Château
de Trécesson
eC
Ruisseau L
D3
8
31
2
Les Forges
N 24
D
14
1
40
D 59
73
D7
Trudeau
Le Pertuis
Néanti
L‘Hôtié de Viviane
Le Val Sans Retour
35
Le Domaine
de Careil
D2
Le Chêne
à Guillotin
Folle Pensée
D
Le Vallon
de la Chambre
au loup
D5
9
4
30
41
D1
Trémelin
Étang et Carrière
de la Marette
Mauron
Concoret
B
La Saudrais
t
en
tav
ou
D 31
D7
St-Léry
Le Bran
Iffendic
eu
N
Natural area
PLOE
M
M
T/S
D5
Viewpoint
D 134
D
Tourist information point
6
76
ière
Riv
Muel
O
AL
Le
Equestrian activities
Tourist Office
D 363
9:55
D6
1
20/07/06
Ruisse
au
de
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
5
Le Thélin
ut
an
ES
Page 4
Key
D
Leisure area
Start point
Megalithic site
Castle, manor, or ship-owner's
residence open to the public
Recreational centre
Religious heritage
Bicycle rental
Museum or curiosity
Picnic area
DI
N
NA
Bléruais
St-Gonlay
Ru
ud
ea
iss
omper
eC
9
Footpath
73
D
St-Malon
-sur-Mel
D7
66
Le Tombeau
de Merlin
D3
1
/ VAN
NES
Monterfil
D3
5
Comper
St-Péran
Telhouët
Coganne
La Ville Danet
D 36
eau
iss
Ru
66
D7
RMEL
Boutavent
Le Buisson
La Saudraie
Le Serein
Treffendel
La Fontaine
de Barenton
N 24
RENN
D
14
1
D
D 61
4
N2
La Garoulais
Le Jardin
aux Moines
Paimpont
Tréhorenteuc
D 154
La Motte
Salomon
D3
8
D 40
Lande
de la Troche
D
a
uL
D
Trégu
77
3
èze
Ch
ea
iss
Ru
L‘Ajeu
Le Gué
Le Cannée
Beauvais
Plélanle-Grand
3
D6
Maxent
D
’Aff
allée de l
V
LORIENT / VANNES
La
Abbaye-la-Joie
Notre-Dame
(Couv.)
re
5
D6
N 24
Beignon
ff
N 24
d’A
4
Campénéac
viè
Ri
Château
de Trécesson
eC
Ruisseau L
D3
8
31
2
Les Forges
N 24
D
14
1
40
D 59
73
D7
Trudeau
Le Pertuis
Néanti
L‘Hôtié de Viviane
Le Val Sans Retour
35
Le Domaine
de Careil
D2
Le Chêne
à Guillotin
Folle Pensée
D
Le Vallon
de la Chambre
au loup
D5
9
4
30
41
D1
Trémelin
Étang et Carrière
de la Marette
Mauron
Concoret
B
La Saudrais
t
en
tav
ou
D 31
D7
St-Léry
Le Bran
Iffendic
eu
N
Natural area
PLOE
M
M
T/S
D5
Viewpoint
D 134
D
Tourist information point
6
76
ière
Riv
Muel
O
AL
Le
Equestrian activities
Tourist Office
D 363
9:55
D6
1
20/07/06
Ruisse
au
de
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
5
Le Thélin
ut
an
ES
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
20/07/06
Statue of Father Gillard
9:56
St-Péran church
Although based around a legendary
past, the Brocéliande circuit also proposes more current activities. In Iffendic, the Domaine de Trémelin also
has a large choice of sports and nautical activities. In total safety, a rope
slide and a tree-climbing course will
delight adrenalin fans. Nature discovery activities on the lake and its
surrounding area round off the possibilities for relaxations close to the
road circuit.
Page 6
Maxent church
Hotié de Viviane
Oak in Guillotin
century), whilst at the church of Sainte-Onenne in
in the forest, workshops for children are part of the Centre's pro-
Tréhorenteuc, it is the quest for the Grail, honoured
gramme dedicated to the Knights of the Round Table.
Merlin's Tomb
by Father Gillard, that will delight fans of unusual
art with its stained glass windows and richly dec-
A forest full of legends
orated mosaics. The imposing Paimpont Abbey
Brocéliande is definitely the place of legends. Arthurian legend con-
gazes at itself in the waters of its lake. Gothic in
tinuously invites the visitor to stop and discover sites steeped in
style, it shelters a distinctly Baroque interior; don't
mystery. Amongst the most enchanting is the Val sans Retour; Mor-
forget to visit this superb treasure! Industry has left
gane the fairy locked up unfaithful lovers here although there are
some surprising marks on Brocéliande: a visit to the
no doubt worse prisons than this wondrous landscape of red shale,
Paimpont smithy at Plélan-le-Grand will show you
water, and heather. Megalithic sites are often associated with
the industrial adventure of a region that, from the middle of the
Arthurian legend. The remains of a covered alley that is Merlin's
17th to the end of the 19th century, was fully focussed on the pro-
tomb; a 4,500 year old sepulchre that was the home of Viviane; the
duction of steel. Even if there are less stones at Boutavent, the site
Monks' Garden, a megalith of unknown usage; the Englishmen's
is worth the detour: it was a high place of the Breton Middle Ages
Tomb, a Neolithic covered alley… In Brocéliande the stones talk a
with the construction of the castle of the Breton kings Judicaël and
very strange tongue, mixing eras and legends, to the delight of
Salomon. Recent digs have rehabilitated this site. You cannot fin-
dreamers of all ages…
The Fairies' Mirror
Val-Sans-Retour
ish your architectural heritage-seeking trip without strolling alongside Comper castle in Concoret. In its red shale enclosure you will
find the Centre de l’Imaginaire Arthurien: exhibitions, guided walks
6
7
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
20/07/06
Statue of Father Gillard
9:56
St-Péran church
Although based around a legendary
past, the Brocéliande circuit also proposes more current activities. In Iffendic, the Domaine de Trémelin also
has a large choice of sports and nautical activities. In total safety, a rope
slide and a tree-climbing course will
delight adrenalin fans. Nature discovery activities on the lake and its
surrounding area round off the possibilities for relaxations close to the
road circuit.
Page 6
Maxent church
Hotié de Viviane
Oak in Guillotin
century), whilst at the church of Sainte-Onenne in
in the forest, workshops for children are part of the Centre's pro-
Tréhorenteuc, it is the quest for the Grail, honoured
gramme dedicated to the Knights of the Round Table.
Merlin's Tomb
by Father Gillard, that will delight fans of unusual
art with its stained glass windows and richly dec-
A forest full of legends
orated mosaics. The imposing Paimpont Abbey
Brocéliande is definitely the place of legends. Arthurian legend con-
gazes at itself in the waters of its lake. Gothic in
tinuously invites the visitor to stop and discover sites steeped in
style, it shelters a distinctly Baroque interior; don't
mystery. Amongst the most enchanting is the Val sans Retour; Mor-
forget to visit this superb treasure! Industry has left
gane the fairy locked up unfaithful lovers here although there are
some surprising marks on Brocéliande: a visit to the
no doubt worse prisons than this wondrous landscape of red shale,
Paimpont smithy at Plélan-le-Grand will show you
water, and heather. Megalithic sites are often associated with
the industrial adventure of a region that, from the middle of the
Arthurian legend. The remains of a covered alley that is Merlin's
17th to the end of the 19th century, was fully focussed on the pro-
tomb; a 4,500 year old sepulchre that was the home of Viviane; the
duction of steel. Even if there are less stones at Boutavent, the site
Monks' Garden, a megalith of unknown usage; the Englishmen's
is worth the detour: it was a high place of the Breton Middle Ages
Tomb, a Neolithic covered alley… In Brocéliande the stones talk a
with the construction of the castle of the Breton kings Judicaël and
very strange tongue, mixing eras and legends, to the delight of
Salomon. Recent digs have rehabilitated this site. You cannot fin-
dreamers of all ages…
The Fairies' Mirror
Val-Sans-Retour
ish your architectural heritage-seeking trip without strolling alongside Comper castle in Concoret. In its red shale enclosure you will
find the Centre de l’Imaginaire Arthurien: exhibitions, guided walks
6
7
C-broceliande-anglais-qx05
20/07/06
9:56
Page 8
Practical Information
Practical Information
Looking for accommodation,
a restaurant,
documentation…
Le Pays de Brocéliande,
A concentration of discovery
CONCORET
PAIMPONT
Contact
• Comper Castle
(Centre de l’Imaginaire Arthurien) :
Open from April to October.
Tel.: +33 (0)2.97.22.79.96
[email protected]
• Guided tour of the Abbey
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.07.81.37 or
+33 (0)2.99.07.83.20
www.abbayedepaimpont.org
Open from Easter to mid-September (weekends and public holidays) and in July and
August.
• Brocéliande Tourist Office
5 esplanade de Brocéliande
35380 Paimpont
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.07.84.23
E-mail:
[email protected]
• Tréhorenteuc Tourist Office
Place Abbé Gillard
56430 Tréhorenteuc
Tel.: +33 (0)2.97.93.05.12
[email protected]
• Pays touristique de Brocéliande
1, rue des Korrigans
35380 Plélan le Grand
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.06.86.07
www.broceliande-tourisme.info
• Comité départemental
du Tourisme Haute Bretagne
Ille-et-Vilaine
4, rue Jean Jaurés - BP 60149
35101 Rennes Cédex 3
Tel. + 33 (0)2.99.78.47.40
www.bretagne35.com
E-mail: [email protected]
IFFENDIC
• Domaine de Careil and Vallon
de la Chambre au Loup
• Celtic Art Shop - "Au Pays de Merlin"
Tel.: + 33 (0)2.99.07.80.23
• Domaine de Trémelin
Recreational Centre
Tel. : +33 (0)2.99.09.73.79
www.domaine-de-tremelin.fr
Water sports, tree climbing.
• Exposition Art Bro
(Painters, ceramic artists, sculptors…)
Behind Paimpont Abbey.
Every day in July and August
• Trémelin Equestrian Centre
and Pony Club
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.09.77.92
www.tremelin-equitation.com
Half-day, day, or week-long courses.
Horse-riding in the woods and around
Trémelin lake. Walks.
• Sailing and Nature at Trémelin
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.09.93.09 or
+33 (0)2.99.09.88.10
All year for "Nature and Discovery"activities,
and from March to November for sailing.
• Mountain bike activity centre
Tel. Comité Cyclotourisme:
+ 33 (0)2.99.54.67.54
Label F.F.C.T.
• Walks on Thursday evening
from 4pm to 8pm
Walking in
Brocéliande
IGN map "Plein-air" series number 4:
for sale at 7.95€
Topographical guides:
•"Randonnée en Brocéliande" for sale at
10,50€. Walking, horse-riding, and
mountain bike circuits, on 24 sheets.
•"VTT en Brocéliande" for sale at 5,50€.
Nine mountain bike circuits covering a
total of 300 kilometres.
ST-MALON-SUR-MEL
• Marette quarry
(500 million years old) Of much geological
interest. Free entry, information board on site.
MAXENT
• Exhibition panel inside the church
Open every day.
•"Maxent Fêtes" Tuesdays
From 6pm to 10pm in July and August
(Organic, regional, craft)
• Guided tours of the legendary sites
of Brocéliande with the Tourist Office
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.07.84.23
[email protected]
From 07/07 to 31/08, every day.
PLÉLAN-LE-GRAND
• The old Smithy of Paimpont
Guided tours for individuals and groups
(requires booking)
[email protected] .
• Ceramic workshop, Margaret Roussel,
Le Bodo,
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.06.92.60
Open every day.
TREFFENDEL
• Parc de Treffendel – Cirque Métropole
Tel.: +33 (0)2.99.61.04.21
Animal Park, Leisure Park, and circus in a
wooded site covering 10 hectares. Courses
and shows. From April to October.
TRÉHORENTEUC
• Guided tour of the church
with the Tourist Office
Tel.: +33 (0)2.97.93.05.12
From 15th July to 15th August at 3pm
(except weekends)
• Guided talks and walks in
the high places of the forest
Tel.: +33 (0)2.97.93.05.12
Every day from 15/06 to 15/09.
Pays Touristique de Brocéliande with the participation of the Conseil Général d’Ille-et-Vilaine and the Comité Départemental du Tourisme de Haute-Bretagne Ille-et-Vilaine.
Photos: Pascal Glais et M.T Le Duff.
Text: Erik Wietzel - Map illustration: Christophe Esnault - 2006 edition.